MBBS students protest rural posting,say shift it to PG course

The protest drew doctors from Maulana Azad Medical College,University College of Medical Sciences and Lady Hardinge Medical College and was backed by the Indian Medical Association and Delhi Medical Association.

‘’There are about 2,000 posts vacant in the primary health centres,a gap which can be addressed easily by posting those who get selected in the 12,000 postgraduate seats. What is the need to use the 45,000-odd MBBS students for this? When will the undergraduate students prepare for the PG entrance tests?’’ a protester said.

Maintaining that they were not against serving in rural areas,students said the timing needed to be changed to ensure ‘’our careers are not hampered’’.

“What is the point of sending doctors to set-ups where there is no electricity,water,laboratory or basic diagnostic facilities,and absolutely no paramedical staff support? If the government wants to improve healthcare in rural areas,then these issues must be addressed first,’’ another student said.

Dr Narendra Saini,IMA secretary general,said,“Every PG student has to serve for six months in rural areas as part of their course. This period can be extended. Similarly,every medical officer is eligible for 4-5 promotions. For every promotion,one rural posting can be made mandatory. But delaying the medical education of doctors which already takes 13-odd years is not justified.”